Question about Running multiple Computers plus RPi endpoints - what exactly do I need?

[stefano_mbp]

18 minutes ago, Wagninger said:

Now my understanding is, it uses HQPlayer as an endpoint and then HQPlayer decides where it goes next.

So a simple solution could be to connect the DAC directly to the Windows machine and get the full quality.

Yes it is, right.

 

18 minutes ago, Wagninger said:

 

If I don't do that, and instead use HQPlayer... NAA? is that what I need? ... it can define another endpoint again which could be a Raspberry Pi?

Is that correct, and do I lose anything by going that route? Like, I want to make sure that the processing happens on the most powerful machine,

NAA is the HQPlayer endpoint and can run on a rpi4 (using the original HQP NAA image or something like RoPieee)

Nothing get lost in terms of quality, in this way you can move your Windows pc (HQPlayer) away from your listening room as, depending on its configuration (filters and modulators) it can be noisy due to the spinning fans.

The heaviest task will be always performed by HQPlayer on the Windows pc

18 minutes ago, Wagninger said:

Bonus Question: If I get what I want, then is there a way to get the HQP processed files from... lets say an iPhone on the go running Roon or Roon Arc?

Not at all unfortunately, you should see ARC as a Roon endpoint therefore if you use ARC the HQPlayer endpoint is out of the game

[stefano_mbp]

4 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

Just to refine this point a bit, probably for my own good, not for @stefano_mbp.
 

HQP still works perfectly when you don’t use Arc. So, using HQP at home and Arc on the go will work and require no changes to the setup. 

Using Arc, you wouldn’t want to run the audio through HQP anyway because a phone or tablet on the go is likely a less than ideal endpoint for upsampled DSD256 etc… (huge data rates and sample rates). 

… my understanding was to use Roon/HQPlayer as the source of ARC …

[stefano_mbp]

👍

[stefano_mbp]

1 minute ago, Wagninger said:

Is the missing switch really the most likely issue?

Yes it is … not “likely” but “surely”